Re-enforced heel and insert



Nov. 23, 1965 BALL 3,218,735

RE-ENFORCED HEEL AND INSERT Filed April 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 UUU n,u M 25 l? $131 18 11 7 9 5 j I 1.6 1 l .4 INVENTOR.

Artiurf' Baa BY M W jaw AT TORNL'Y Nov. 23, 1965 A. F. BALL 3,218,735

RE-ENFORGED HEEL AND INSERT Filed April 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. Anfiuz' I. Eaff WWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,218,735RE-ENFORCED HEEL AND INSERT Arthur F. Ball, Haverhill, Mass, assignor,by direct and mesne assignments, to Essex Products, Inc., Haverhill,Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. 25, 1958, Ser. No.731,040 14 Claims. (Cl. 36-34) The present invention relates tore-enforced heels for shoes and the like, components thereof, being moreparticularly directed to plastic heels.

While the invention will be described in connection With its importantapplication to plastic heels, it is to be understood that it may also beemployed with other types of heel wherein the advantages of theinvention are desired. In such plastic heels, and the like, particularlywhere very thin heel stems are employed which the inherently relativelyweak, it is necessary to provide reenforcing structures in order toprevent fracture of the fragile heel in use. The concept of employingre-enforcing dowels and the like, of course, is not new, but priorartproposals of this character are decidedly not suited to the very thinheel stems of plastic and similar heels. Many of the prior-artre-enforcing structures, for eX- ample, are so mechanically arrangedthat they can only be used with heels of substantial thickness.

An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to provide a new andimproved re-enforced heel of thin heel stem. In summary, the thin heelstem is recessed and fitted therein with a dowel provided with means forpreventing slipping or rotation within the recess, and provided at thefree end of the dowel with a pre-formed top lift that is prevented fromrelative rotation with respect to the dowel.

A further object is to provide a novel re-enforcing insert.

Still an additional object is to provide a unitary reenforcing insertand top lift that obviates the necessity for separate assembly of a toplift with the re-enforced heel.

Other and further objects Will be explained hereinafter and will be moreparticularly pointed out in the a ended claims.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing FIG. 1 of which is a perspective view of a heel constructed inaccordance with a preferred embodiment, the component parts thereofbeing shown separated;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the assembled re-enforced heel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a modification;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified insert; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a preferred method of assembly of thecomponent parts of the re-enforced heel.

Referring to FIG. 1, a solid thin-stemmed plastic heel,

as of acrylic plastic, acetate or other similar material, is shown at 1,the thin longitudinal tapered stem 5 thereof, being relatively weak andsubject to easy fracture in view of its length and thinness. Thephysical characteristics of such plastic materials, of course, prohibitthe driving of inserts into the plastic heel itself. In order to employa re-enforcing dowel, therefore, it is necessary to provide a pre-formedlongitudinal recess 9 for receiving the same and that extends upwardtoward the heel seat 3. The reenforcing dowel, moreover, must be ofsufficient crosssection and strength to impart adequate re-enforcementto the heel stem 5 when inserted within the recess 9 thereof.inherently, therefore, the cross-dimension of the recess 9 will consumean appreciable proportion of the crosssectional surface of the thin heelstem 5, giving rise to problems in providing suitable re-enforcement.

In accordance with the present invention, the re-enforcing insert 11 isof rod or dowel shape, preferably having a tapered guiding or leading-inend 13 and ridges, serrations or ribs 15. The cross-section of the dowelinsert 11 at the ridges 15 is slightly greater than that of the heelstemrecess 9 in order that, as the insert 11 is forced into the recess 9,the ridges will cut into the plastic walls of the recess 9 and locktherein, preventing any possible longitudinal slipping or rotation ofthe insert, which can not, of course, be tolerated. The rod insert 11 isfirst assembled, however, with a top lift 19, pre formed into topliftshape with a flat breast region 23 corresponding to the flat breastregion of the lower extremity 7 of the heel stem 5. If the lower or freeend of the insert 11, adjacent the head 17, thereof, is enlarged to adiameter slightly greater than at the ridges 15, and preferably providedwith ridges or serrations 17', FIG. 1, it may be force-fitted within apreferably recessed aperture 21 in the top lift 19, rigidly to securethe top lift 19 to the insert 11 and to prevent rotation between thesame which could cause injury to the user. The recessed aperture 21, tothis end, is preferably somewhat tapered, as shown.

Thus, in the assembled re-enforced heel of FIG. 2, the re-enforcinginsert 11 is locked within the recess 9 and the top lift 19 isautomatically assembled against the bottom end of the heel stem 5. Thetop lift 19 may be provided with the flange 25, for decoration, and withtreads 27, FIG. 3, if desired.

It has been found that the insert 11 must be of properly case-hardenedor completely hardened steel, preferably of hardness ranging from 43 to55 on the Rockwell scale. Harder steels have been found often to be toobrittle for the purposes of the invention, and ordinary iron rods havebeen found to be too soft to support the thin heel. Tests on an acrylicheel of the type shown in FIG. 1, having a thin heel stem 5 that, at itslower extremity 7 is a flattened inch circle, and employing on 0.136inch-diameter recess 9 two inches in length, show that the plasticunreenforced stem begins to yield when only fifty pounds of lateralpressure are exerted at the top lift region. The heel stem graduallybuckles over at an ultimate pressure of seventy pounds. With a 43 to 55Rockwell hardened steel insert 11, of diameter 0.142 inch that theregion 15, the heel did not even begin to yield until one hundred tenpounds of pressure were laterally applied, and the ultimate collapse didnot take place until two hundred twenty five pounds of pressure wereapplied. In this in sert, the diameter at the region 17' was 0.008 inchwider than the aperture 21 in a steel top lift 19, permitting a rigidforce fit of these parts. If desired, of course, the top lift 19 and theinsert 11 may also be formed in an integral single piece.

The heal may be enameled or covered with fabric, suede, etc., as iswell-known; and, as shown in FIG. 3, the covering 1' may be overlappedat 1" over the top lift end 7 of the heel stem 5 before the insert 11 isforced into the recess 9, so that the top lift 19 clamps over theoverlap 1". The hardened steel top lift 19 may also be colored orplated, as with bronze, nickel, chromium, etc., to provide the desireddecorative appearance, and it may be treated for rust-proofing. The toplift may also be constituted of leather or other material.

Instead of a metal top lift 19, a plastic top lift 19', as of nylon, forexample, FIG. 4, may be provided. The lower end of the insert 11 is thenpreferably provided with a larger head 17". The bottom of the top lift19 and/or the head 17" may also be scored or otherwise provided withtreads, not shown, if desired.

Because the recess 9, the insert 11 and its assembled top lift 19 areall pro-formed and the assembly of these parts may be effected on thecompleted or finished heel,

it is essential that the assembly be carried out with precision andproper orientation and alignment. This is achieved, in accordance with afeature of the invention, by securing the heel 1 with the fiat breastregion of the thin recessed heel stem 5 engaging a fiat base surface 2.A clamp 8 may engage the heel seat 3 and a shoe 4, operable when apressure cylinder 6 is activated, may clamp downward to prevent lateralslipping of the heel stem 5. The top lift 19 is positioned with its flatpro-formed breast surface 23 engaging the surface 2 between lateralguides 10 and, upon actuation of the piston 12 of the pressure cylinder6, may be forced longitudinally to the left to drive the insert 11 intothe recess 9. Since the ridges 15 of the insert 11 lock within theplastic walls of the recess 9, no angular re-adjustment is feasible. Theuse of the flat surface 23 of the top lift 19 to effect guiding of theinsert 11 as it is forced into the recess 9, however, provides for trueand accurate alignment so that the preaformed top lift 19 fits properly'upon the top-lift end 7 of the heel 1. Release of the piston 12 willrelease, also, the shoe 4 so that the next heel may be similarlyprovided with a re-enforcing insert and top lift unit. The top lift 19being secured in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the insert 11,close-location tolerance in drilling or otherwise forming and centeringthe recess 9 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the top-liftlower surface 7 of the heel stem 5 is required if a tight fit of the toplift is to be achieved.

Further modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and allsuch are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A reinforced heel having a body portion of relatively weak materialprovided at its upper end with a relatively large imperforate heel-seatsurface and at its lower end with a relatively small apertured tread endthe aperture of which is of cross-dimension occupying an appreciableportion of the cross-dimension of the tread end, the body portion beingtapered sharply from the heel-seat surface toward the tread end in theneighborhood. of the heel-seat surface but much less sharply at regionsmore remote from the heel-seat surface to provide a relatively thin stemextending longitudinally throughout the greater portion of the length ofthe body portion at the said regions more remote from the heelseatsurface, the body portion being interiorly provided with a recess ofcross-dimension substantially the same as the cross-dimension of theaperture in the tread end extending longitudinally throughout thegreater portion of the length of the body portion, including the stem,from the aperture in the tread end to just below the heelseat surface,and an elongated reinforcing dowel constituted of material much harderthan that of the body portion driven into the recess, the reinforcingdowel being provided with one or more projections biting into the wallsof the recess to prevent movement of the reinforcing dowel in therecess, and a top lift of dimensions corresponding to the dimensions ofthe tread end secured rigidly to the lower end of the reinforcing dowelin engagement with the tread end, means being provided for preventingseparation of the top lift from the reinforcing dowel when thereinforcing dowel is mounted in place in the recess.

2. A reinforced heel having a body portion of relatively weak plasticprovided at its upper end with a relatively large imperforate heel-seatsurface and at its lower end with a relatively small apertured tread endthe aperportion of the length of the body portion at the said regionsmore remote from the heel-seat surface, the body portion beinginteriorly provided with a recess of cross dimension substantially thesame as the cross-dimension of the aperture in the tread end extendinglongitudinally throughout the greater portion of the length of the bodyportion, including the stem, from the aperture in the tread end to justbelow the heel-seat surface, and an elangated reinforcing dowelconstituted of material much harder than that of the plastic driven intothe recess, the body portion of the reinforcing dowel being providedalong its surface with a plurality of longitudinally extendingprojections biting into the walls of the recess to prevent movement ofthe reinforcing dowel in the recess, and a top lift of dimensionscorresponding to the dimensions of the tread end secured rigidly to thelower end of the reinforcing dowel in engagement with the tread end, thetop lift having an aperture of dimensions larger than the dimensions ofthe body portion of the dowel plus the projections, the other end of thereinforcing dowel being of correspondingly larger dimensions and securedrigidly in the aperture of the top lift, the walls of the aperture ofthe top lift and the walls of the said other end of the reinforcingdowel interengaging to prevent separation of the top lift from the saidother end of the reinforcing dowel when the reinforcing .dowel ismounted in place in the recess.

3. A unitary combined reinforcing-dowel-and-top-lift member for a heeland the like having a body portion constituted of relatively Weakmaterial comprising an elongated reinforcing dowel constituted ofmaterial much harder than that of the body portion and adapted to bedriven into a correspondingly elongated interior recess of the heel andthe like, the reinforcing dowel being provided with means for preventingits movement in the recess, and a top lift secured rigidly to one end ofthe reinforcing dowel, means being provided for preventing separation ofthe top lift from the reinforcing dowel when the reinforcing dowel ismounted in place in the recess.

4. A unitary combined reinforcing-dowel-and-top-lift member for a heeland the like having a body portion constituted for relatively weakmaterial comprising an elongated reinforcing dowel constituted ofmaterial much harder than that of the body portion and adapted to bedriven into a correspondingly elongated interior recess of the heel andthe like, the body portion of the reinforcing dowel being provided withone or more projections for biting into the Walls of the recess toprevent movement of the reinforcing dowel in the recess, one end of thereinforcing dowel being of dimensions larger than the dimensions of thebody portion of the reinforcing dowel plus the one or more projections,in order that it may be received in a correspondingly shaped aperture ofa top lift that may he slipped over the other end and the body portionof the reinforcing dowel and the one or more projections into unitarycombination with the said one end of the reinforcing dowel.

5. A unitary combined reinforcing-dowel-and-top-lift member for a heeland the like having a body portion constituted of relatively weakmaterial comprising an longated reinforcing dowel constituted ofmaterial much harder than that of the body portion and adapted to bedriven into a correspondingly elongated interior recess of the heel andthe like, the body portion of the reinforcing dowel being provided withone or more projections for biting into the walls of the recess toprevent movement of the reinforcing dowel in th recess, and a top lifthaving an aperture of dimensions larger than dimensions of the bodyportion of the reinforcing dowel plus the one or more projections, theother end of the reinforcing dowel being of correspondingly largerdimensions and secured rigidly in the aperture of the top lift, the wallof th apertur of the top lift and the walls of the said other end of thereinforcing dowel interengaging to prevent separationof the top liftfrom the said other end of the reinforcing dowel when the reinforcingdowel is mounted in place in the recess.

6. A unitary combined reinforcing-dowel-and-top-lift member as definedin claim 5 th interengaging walls of which are flared.

7. A unitary combined-reinforcing-dloweland-top-lift member as definedin claim 5 the interengaging walls of which are provided withinterlocking projections.

8. A plastic heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portiontapering to an elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrowhigh heel having a very narrow bottom portion extending more than halfthe height of the heel, said heel having a central vertical openingextending from the bottom end through said narrow portion, an elongatedrigid hardened steel reinforcing member extending into said openingthrough said narrow portion of said heel, means for frictionallyretaining said reinforcing member in said opening, said means includinglongitudinal flutings on said member, said reinforcing member having anenlarged flat head abutting the bottom of said heel, a tap for thebottom of said heel having a central opening for receiving said head,and means for mounting said tap on said heel and for preventing rotatingmovement of said tap.

9. A heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portion tapering toan elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrow high heelhaving a very narrow bottom portion extending more than half the heightof the heel, said heel having a central vertical opening extending fromthe bottom end through said narrow portion, an elongated rigidreinforcing member extending into said opening through said narrowportion of said heel, means for frictionally retaining said reinforcingmember in said opening, said reinforcing member having an enlarged flathead abutting the bottom of said heel, a tap of the bottom of said heelhaving a central opening for receiving said head, and means for mountingsaid tap on said heel and for preventing rotating movement of said tap,said mounting means including flutings on the perimeter of said head andcomplementary flutings around the central opening of said tap.

10. A plastic heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portiontapering to an elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrowhigh heel having a very narrow bottom portion extending more than halfthe height of the heel, said heel having a central vertical openingextending from the bottom end through said narrow portion, an elongatedrigid hardened steel reinforcing member extending into said openingthrough said narrow portion of said heel, means for frictionallyretaining said reinforcing member in said opening, said means includinglongitudinal flutings on said member, said reinforcing member having anenlarged flat head abutting the bottom of said heel, a tap for thebottom of said heel having a central opening for receiving said head,and means for mounting said tap on said heel and for preventing rotatingmovement of said tap, said mounting means including flutings on theperimeter of said head and complementary flutings around the centralopening of said tap.

11. A plastic heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portiontapering to an elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrowhigh heel having a very narrow bottom portion extending more than halfthe height of the heel, said heel having a central vertical openingextending from the bottom end through said narrow portion, an elongatedrigid hardened steel reinforcing member extending into said openingthrough said narrow portion of said heel, means for frictionallyretaining said reinforcing member in said opening, said means includinglongitudinal flutings on said member, said reinforcing member having anenlarged flat head abutting the bottom of said heel, a tap for thebottom of said heel having a central opening for receiving said head,and means for mounting said tap on said heel and for preventing rotatingmovement of said tap, said tap being made of metal.

12. A plastic heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portiontapering to an elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrowhigh heel having a very narrow bottom portion extending more than halfthe height of the heel, said heel having a central vertical openingextending from the bottom end through said narrow portion, an elonatedrigid hardened steel reinforcing member extending into said openingthrough said narrow portion of said heel, means for frictionallyretaining said reinforcing member in said opening, said means includinglongitudinal flutings on said members, said reinforcing member having anenlarged flat head abutting the bottom of said heel, a tap for thebottom of said heel having a central opening for receiving said head,v

and means for mounting said tap on said heel and for preventing rotatingmovement of said tap, said tap being made of leather.

13. A plastic heel for a womans shoe comprising a broad top portiontapering to an elongated very narrow bottom portion to form a narrowhigh heel having a very narrow bottom portion extending more than halfthe height of the heel, said heel having a central vertical openingextending from the bottom end through said narrow portion, an elongatedrigid hardened steel rein forcing member extending into said openingthrough said narrow portion of said heel, means for frictionallyretaining said reinforcing member in said opening, said means includinglongitudinal flutings on said member, said reinforcing member having anenlarged flat head abutting th bottom of said heel, a tap for the bottomof said heel having a central opening for receiving said head, and meansfor mounting said tap 'on said heel and for preventing rotating movementof said tap, said tap being made of nylon.

14. A unitary combined reinforcing core and tap member for a heel andthe like having a plastic body portion constituted of relatively weakmaterial comprising an elongated metal reinforcing core constituted ofmaterial much harder than the plastic body portion and adapted to bedriven into a correspondingly elongated interior opening of the heel andthe like, the reinforcing core being provided with means for preventingits movement in the opening, and a tap secured to 'one end of thereinforcing core, means being provided for preventing separation of thetap from the reinforcing core when the reinforcing core is mounted inplace in the heel opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,378,261 5/1921Mencarelli 3634 X 1,401,808 12/1921 Monfils 36--34 1,985,651 12/1934Branca 36-34 2,069,585 2/1937 Marchant 36-34 Examiners.

LEWIS J. LENNY, EDWARD V. BENHAM,

FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

1. A REINFORCED HEEL HAVING A BODY PORTION OF RELATIVELY WEAK MATERIALPROVIDED AT ITS UPPER END WITH A RELATIVELY LARGE IMPERFORATE HEEL-SEATSURFACE AND AT ITS LOWER END WITH A RELATIVELY SMALL APERTURED TREAD ENDTHE APERTURE OF WHICH IS OF CROSS-DIMENSION OCCUPYING AN APPRECIABLEPORTION OF THE CROSS-DIMENSION OF THE TREAD END, THE BODY PORTION BEINGTAPERED SHARPLY FROM THE HEEL-SEAT SURFACE TOWARD THE TREAD END IN THENEIGHBORHOOD OF THE HEEL-SEAT SURFACE BUT MUCH LESS SHARPLY AT REGIONSMORE REMOTE FROM THE HEEL-SEAT SURFACE TO PROVIDE A RELATIVELY THIN STEMEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGHOUT THE GREATER PORTION OF THE LENGTH OFTHE BODY PORTION AT THE SAID REGIONS MORE REMOTE FROM THE HEELSEATSURFACE, THE BODY PORTION BEING INTERIORLY PROVIDED WITH A RECESS OFCROSS-DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE CROSS-DIMENSION OF THEAPERTURE IN THE TREAD END EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGHOUT THEGREATER PORTION OF THE LENGTH OF THE BODY PORTION, INCLUDING THE STEM,FROM THE APERTURE IN THE TREAD END TO JUST BELOW THE HEELSEAT SURFACE,AND AN ELONGATED REINFORCING DOWEL CONSTITUTED OF MATERIAL MUCH HARDERTHAN THAT OF THE BODY PORTION DRIVEN INTO THE RECESS, THE REINFORCINGDOWEL BEING PROVIDED WITH ONE OR MORE PROJECTIONS BITING INTO THE WALLSOF THE RECESS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE REINFORCING DOWEL IN THERECESS, AND A TOP LIFT OF DIMENSIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE DIMENSIONS OFTHE TREAD END SECURED RIGIDLY TO THE LOWER END OF THE REINFORCING DOWELIN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TREAD END, MEANS BEING PROVIDED FOR PREVENTINGSEPARATION OF THE TOP LIFT FROM THE REINFORCING DOWEL WHEN THEREINFORCING DOWEL IS MOUNTED IN PLACE IN THE RECESS.